| SoftActivate Licensing | Licensing SDK (Legacy, on-prem) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Fully managed - no infrastructure to host, patch or scale | You run the licensing server (Windows/ASP.NET or Linux/Node.js) |
| Pricing model | Subscription tiers by active devices (pricing); 14-day free trial | One-time purchase per edition ($99–$399) |
| License keys & templates | Yes | Yes |
| Online activation, device limits | Yes, with self-service deactivation | Yes |
| Offline validation | Signed licenses, public-PKI anchored | Signed license keys |
| Subscriptions & renewals | Full lifecycle: renewal, grace, cancellation, payment-required status | Basic (renewal handling is your code) |
| Activation analytics | Real-time, counted from actual activations | Approximated from license creation |
| Sales reports | Built-in dashboard + per-country/product reports | Built-in reports |
| Team management & audit trail | Yes | Single operator |
| Sandbox / evaluation mode | Seeded, resettable sandbox per account | - |
| Source code | Enterprise option | Full C++/C# source included |
| Runs in your infrastructure | Enterprise: on-premise deployment available (SoftActivate Licensing Server) | Always |
| Server updates & security patches | Included, continuous | Your responsibility (updates included with Lifetime Updates edition) |
Choose SoftActivate Licensing when…
- You don't want to run, patch or scale a licensing server
- You sell subscriptions and want renewals handled for you
- You want real-time activation analytics and team access
- You'd rather pay monthly than own infrastructure
Choose the Licensing SDK (Legacy) when…
- Policy requires licensing to run entirely on your infrastructure
- You want a one-time purchase with full source code
- You already operate the SDK's licensing server happily
- Your licensing logic is deeply customized at the source level
Already a Licensing SDK (Legacy) customer? You can adopt SoftActivate Licensing for new products while keeping existing ones on-prem: same vendor, one support channel. See Migrating from the Legacy SDK for how the concepts map, or tell us about your setup and we'll help you plan. For background, read our post on on-premises vs. SaaS licensing servers.
Ship licensing this week, not this quarter.
Create a free account, explore the seeded sandbox, and activate your first license - all before your coffee gets cold.
Create Your Account
No credit card to sign up
Read the Quickstart
From signup to activation
14-day free trial
No self-hosting required
15+ years in software licensing